Boris Vasilyevich Barnet was a renowned Soviet film director, actor, and screenwriter of British origin, whose remarkable career spanned over three decades, during which he directed an impressive 27 films between 1927 and 1963.
Born in Moscow, Barnet's family had a rich cultural heritage, with his grandfather, Thomas Barnet, being a printer who migrated to the Russian Empire from Great Britain in the 19th century. Barnet's early life was marked by his involvement in the Red Army, where he was a student of the Moscow Art School and even professionally boxed.
In 1927, Barnet made his directorial debut with the comedy film, The Girl with a Hatbox, starring the talented Anna Sten. The following year, he released his melodramatic film, The House on Trubnaya, starring Vera Maretskaya, which was rediscovered in the mid-1990s and is now considered one of the classic Russian silent films.
Barnet's early work was encouraged by the renowned Yakov Protazanov, and by the 1930s, he had emerged as one of the leading film-makers in the country. His masterpiece, Outskirts (1933),a pacifist story, was highly acclaimed at the first Venice Film Festival.
In the post-war era, Barnet's work continued to flourish, exemplified by his film, Secret Agent, the first Soviet spy film, which won the Stalin Prize and showcased his innovative techniques, including Hitchcockian influence and tricks, cementing his reputation abroad.
Barnet's artistic genius lay in his ability to invent and surprise his audience, often incorporating unexpected elements, such as photographs coming to life or scenes ending with details introducing the next scene. He was also known for his innovative camera techniques, such as beginning a scene with a close-up, allowing the space to be progressively discovered through changing the axis or camera movement.
Many Russian filmmakers, including the acclaimed Andrei Tarkovsky, professed their admiration for Barnet's work. However, despite his artistic achievements, Barnet's life was marked by tragedy, as he committed suicide in Riga, Latvian SSR, leaving behind his wife, Alla Kazanskaya, and daughter, Olga Barnet.
